Drop the penalties against Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. and stop driving athletes to drink with excessive punishments for using marijuana!

The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) fined former middleweight champion boxer Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. $900,000 and suspended him for nine months simply because he tested positive for marijuana.

The NSAC would never punish a fighter so severely for using alcohol, yet marijuana is an objectively less harmful product. It is less toxic, less addictive, and it does not contribute to assaults and other violent crimes like alcohol does. The commission's harsh marijuana penalties do nothing to promote the health and safety of athletes. If anything, they put them in danger by steering them toward using alcohol and away from making the safer choice to use marijuana instead.

Sign our petition today calling on the NSAC to drop the excessive penalties against Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. and stop driving athletes to drink by threatening to punish them for using marijuana.

Marijuana is not a performance-enhancing drug, and it is objectively far less harmful than alcohol for the consumer and for the surrounding community. It is less toxic, less addictive, and unlike alcohol, it does not contribute to assaults and other violent crimes. Yet, the NSAC is steering athletes toward drinking by threatening to punish them if they choose to use the less harmful substance.

Please drop the excessive penalties that have been levied upon Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. and change the NSAC’s policy so that it no longer drives athletes to drink.